UAVs to be used in anti-Naxal operations

New Delhi: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
will be used for the first time to detect Naxal hideouts in
dense forests and hilly terrains and monitor the movement of
ultras to help ground forces carry out precision attacks.

The UAVs, with in-built camera, well-equipped data link
and video link, will gather and record information which will
be shared among the security forces engaged in anti-Naxal
operations, specially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa,
Maharashtra and West Bengal.

The trials of the UAVs, developed by the Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), have recently been conducted in Hissar
and Delhi while more trials will be conducted in jungles of
Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand soon.

"We are satisfied with the UAV trials in Hissar and
Delhi. If we are satisfied with next stage of trials, we will
take the help of UAVs in our operations against Naxals," a
Home Ministry official said.

Security experts also want to see which of the UAV
variants will be useful in forests and hills as most of the
Maoist bases are located there only.

The UAVs also provide flexible surveillance and
reconnaissance capability with external payload, including
weapons capability.

"Since Maoists are keep changing their movements,
deployment of UAVs will certainly be an advantage for security
forces," the official said.